Residents of Staten Island suffer from very long commutes, and many rely on cars. The New York City Council has proposed a study to determine how additional transit could be implemented in the borough.
The comprehensive study, to be conducted by the Department of Transportation, would examine neighborhoods like Mariners Harbor. These 'transportation deserts' are "marked by a dearth of transit options and lower median incomes compared to other parts of the city."
Increasing access to transit on Staten Island is one segment of Mayor Bill de Blasio's OneNYC plan. "The city aims to ensure 90 percent of residents can reach at least 200,000 jobs by transit within 45 minutes by 2040. Mariners Harbor is the only Staten Island neighborhood considered a 'priority area' where lack of public transit affects economic status."
Light rail and bus rapid transit are both on the table. From the article: "Another measure would require the agency to determine the feasibility of building a light rail system in the five boroughs [...] But the city thinks both these reviews should be incorporated into an upcoming study on bus rapid transit mandated by the Council in April."
FULL STORY: City pitches study on 'transportation deserts'
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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